Berlin's IFA has become something of a dogpile of product announcements, and HP has joined the fray with its own batch of new laptops optimized for Windows 8. Catching most of our attention, however, was the newest member of HP's Envy line, the Envy x2.

The HP Envy x2 is a thin hybrid PC that offers a tablet for convenience and docks with a keyboard for a laptop-style form factor when productivity is needed. The Envy x2 connects to the keyboard using a magnetic latch mechanism, which secures the tablet easily, and releases it with the press of a button.

A bare aluminum finish gives the Envy x2 a luxurious feel, and the construction feels more sturdy than plastic ones we've seen. With the keyboard attached, the Envy x2 weighs 3.1 pounds and only 1.5 pounds with the tablet alone. Unlike other laptop/tablet hybrids we've seen, the Envy x2 is well balanced in terms of weight, never feeling topheavy or off balance.

The Envy x2 features an 11.6-inch capacitive touch screen with an In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel providing 1,366-by-768 resolution and wide viewing angles. The tablet is outfitted with two cameras, a front-facing webcam and a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera for shooting video and still photos. Beats Audio provides rich sound, even when heard through the tablet's stereo speakers.

The Envy x2 is equipped with micro HDMI output, a USB 3.0 port, and a micro SD card slot. Inside is a 64GB solid-state drive (SSD) and an as-yet-unannounced Intel processor. Built into the attachable keyboard is an additional battery, as well as a full-size HDMI port, an additional USB 3.0 port, and a full size SD card slot.

Included with the Envy x2 are several proprietary tools from HP for sharing and managing media on the device. Among these are HP Connected Photo, which offers basic photo editing, instant photo sharing with several social networks, and seamless syncing with multiple devices. HP Connected Music serves as a single utility for downloading and sharing music, as well as listening to streaming services and Internet radio.

The HP Envy x2 is expected to launch in Q4 of 2012, sometime after the Oct. 26 launch of Windows 8. No specific information about release dates or pricing have been announced at this time.

About the Author

Brian Westover is an Analyst for the Hardware Team, reviewing laptops, desktops, and storage devices.
As a child, Brian was frequently asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" His answer alternated between Superman and Batman. This was cute when he was five, but worrisome at seventeen. Naturally, he is now a journalist, writing about tec... See Full Bio

Get Our Best Stories!

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.